As Andrew Sullivan would say, Know Hope:
The Seahawks still do not have an agreement [with Pete Carroll] despite widespread reports, but are closing in on a coaching contract, according to a league official with direct knowledge of Seattle’s coaching search.
The official told The Associated Press Saturday the team is in “discussions” with Carroll and does not plan on giving him the additional title of president. …
“No, they do not have an agreement. They are not there,” the official told the AP …
When asked if Carroll will become the eighth coach in Seattle’s 34-year history, the official said all signs point that way, just “not so fast” as has been reported.
Okay, so it’s just a tiny glimmer of hope. But still!
P.S. See also here. SI’s Peter King says it’s “still overwhelmingly likely that Pete Carroll will be the new coach of the Seattle Seahawks — but it’s not a done deal yet.” He also adds this nugget, which I don’t really understand:
Carroll probably can’t go back to USC because its recruiting season lies in ruins, which lends more urgency to his meeting with the Seahawks boss [Sunday or Monday in L.A.] and puts a little pressure on Carroll to accept the terms of the Seattle deal.
Huh? Enough irreparable damage has been done to USC’s recruiting season in the course of, what, 36 hours, that Carroll “can’t go back”? So if he asked to stay on as coach, Mike Garrett would say “thanks, but no thanks, your weekend-long flirtation with the NFL has so damaged our program that we now hate you, and we’ll take our chances with Mike Riley”? I find that hard to believe.
P.P.S. Meanwhile, if you remember Carroll’s comments last year when Mark Sanchez decided to go pro, this is pretty damn funny (clip preceded by advertisement):